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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Published in 1992, this first book in a series introduces the character of Blanche White, a black American working as a housekeeper in North Carolina.
A lot of setting the scene, also a lot of social/political commentary (at times repetitive), with the actual murder occurring only at half the book.
Loved the way the house is used in her writing.
Curious to read the second book to see how her storytelling evolves.
A lot of setting the scene, also a lot of social/political commentary (at times repetitive), with the actual murder occurring only at half the book.
Loved the way the house is used in her writing.
Curious to read the second book to see how her storytelling evolves.
I had a hard time getting into it but I really liked Blanche and am glad I stuck with her. Book picks up a lot in the second half. This book reminded me of Get Out and how a different genre or structure (mystery novel or horror film) can be used so effectively to reveal racism and sexism. Very thought provoking vs. an escape.
This was published in 1992 so it should have SO MANY more ratings here on GR than it does. It was very good! Mystery/crime junkies, consider this your notice. A fun series is waiting for you. There are only four books in it, and this is the first. And if you have KU or Audible, it's free! I highly enjoyed the audiobook experience, if you are an audiobook person.
The book opens with Blanche—who I now love with all my heart—sitting in court waiting to hear her sentence for bouncing a couple of checks. She's in trouble but it's not her fault. She only bounced those checks because her employers (she's a domestic worker) didn't pay her when they should have, and she lives literally paycheck to paycheck. She is given thirty days in jail, a situation that is undesirable in every way, not least because it would financially ruin her and her kids would get taken away by her mother. (Her kids are adopted; her sister made her promise to take care of them before she died.)
I was so taken with Blanche's narrative voice right away that when she takes the opportunity to just leg it out onto the street before they can haul her off to jail, I literally cheered out loud instead of what I normally would have done, which is groan out a "nooooo" and bemoan the fates of stupid characters. But Blanche is no fool. She hides out in the last place anyone would look: her work. A job she had canceled with her employment agency was never filled, so she shows up anyway for the week long job out in the country with the agency not knowing she's there. She figures this will give her some breathing room (and some cash) to figure out what she's going to do next.
But this job takes all of Blanche's patience and powers of nosiness, because something weird is going on. There are dead bodies, but they don't turn up until about halfway. That doesn't stop Blanche from investigating a priori. I thought for sure I had the mystery figured out, and so does Blanche, but I was absolutely tricked. Blanche in the end, was not.
I had so much fun with this book, and I have the other three books ready to go and downloaded for when I have the time. I'm already sad that there are only four, because the author started publishing later in life, and died in 2020, before she could write any more. (Although it looks like the last thing she published was a short story in 2005. I wonder why she stopped writing?)
Chipping Away at Mt. TBR, Spooky Season Edition — Book 5/31
The book opens with Blanche—who I now love with all my heart—sitting in court waiting to hear her sentence for bouncing a couple of checks. She's in trouble but it's not her fault. She only bounced those checks because her employers (she's a domestic worker) didn't pay her when they should have, and she lives literally paycheck to paycheck. She is given thirty days in jail, a situation that is undesirable in every way, not least because it would financially ruin her and her kids would get taken away by her mother. (Her kids are adopted; her sister made her promise to take care of them before she died.)
I was so taken with Blanche's narrative voice right away that when she takes the opportunity to just leg it out onto the street before they can haul her off to jail, I literally cheered out loud instead of what I normally would have done, which is groan out a "nooooo" and bemoan the fates of stupid characters. But Blanche is no fool. She hides out in the last place anyone would look: her work. A job she had canceled with her employment agency was never filled, so she shows up anyway for the week long job out in the country with the agency not knowing she's there. She figures this will give her some breathing room (and some cash) to figure out what she's going to do next.
But this job takes all of Blanche's patience and powers of nosiness, because something weird is going on. There are dead bodies, but they don't turn up until about halfway. That doesn't stop Blanche from investigating a priori. I thought for sure I had the mystery figured out, and so does Blanche, but I was absolutely tricked. Blanche in the end, was not.
I had so much fun with this book, and I have the other three books ready to go and downloaded for when I have the time. I'm already sad that there are only four, because the author started publishing later in life, and died in 2020, before she could write any more. (Although it looks like the last thing she published was a short story in 2005. I wonder why she stopped writing?)
Chipping Away at Mt. TBR, Spooky Season Edition — Book 5/31
Great characters here -- I loved the relationship between Blanche and Mumsfield. The ending was very poignant but hopeful.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Blanche on the Lam has a lot of observances about race relations that are still relevant today. She is a smart, hard working observant woman that cares about her family. Very admirable despite some flaws. I liked that slow unfolding of details that keeps you interested in the story. This is a book to sit back and soak in, not rush through. The mention of darkies disease was very interesting. Look it up and take to heart if it fits. Very relevant because I am sure there is no reverse equivalent. Good story, but not my type of story.
Wild and crazy ride on the wild side; Blanche is flawed, human and real. Her employers are phony, but how phony? Hard to say, until the end, when Blanche figures it all out.
I really enjoyed this book.
Spoilers: Blanche is not a fan of white people.
I really enjoyed this book.
Spoilers: Blanche is not a fan of white people.
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No